of the word “Frontier” was most appropriate, as the weapon was certainly destined for markets throughout the frontier regions of the United States. It was a title first used in identifying the Colt .44-40 single-action revolver of 1875.
The 1892 catalogue of the New York firm of Schoverling, Daly & Gales advertised an improved version which was also similar to the final pattern of Webley R.I.C. revolver. The new model differed in having a fluted cylinder and lanyard ring attachment but otherwise remained much the same as its predecessor.
While not totally conclusive, there is some evidence that revolvers of this type were imported by the New York agency from the Belgian arms manufacturer Jules Pire & Company of Antwerp. That firm was established in 1885 to produce weapons of all types, including several revolver models. The son of Jules Pire later became a manager with Schoverling, Daly & Gales and was responsible for the distribution of Belgian guns throughout the United States.
In 1895, the catalogue of Montgomery Ward & Company, a nationwide retail and mail-order business, listed the Frontier Bull Dog at $3.85, a price which then compared very favourably with that of a Colt single action Frontier model at $16. By that time, of course, solid frame revolvers had become rather outdated due to the introduction of hinge-frame, self-extracting models at very similar prices. Many of these revolvers with the alternative title of FRONTIER ARMY, although similar in design to the Bull Dog versions, were still being offered by U.S. mail-order houses in 1900.
In addition to the Frontier model, the Boston company of Turner & Ross also offered “The New British Bull Dog” model as a 5-shot model in .44 centre fire. It was rather ominously described as “The revolver with which Guiteau assassinated the President,” a clear reference to the shooting of President James A. Garfield on 2 July, 1881, by Charles Guiteau. In a slightly less ominous promotion, the pistol was otherwise recommended for express messengers, mail clerks, bankers, watchmen, miners and even members of the police force.
Revolvers of this pattern were first produced in Belgium during the early 1880s by Neumann Brothers, who had also been responsible for manufacture of the Star Bull Dog.
Finished in nickel plating and with hard rubber stock plates, this model was priced at $7 in the Turner & Ross catalogue of 1883 and appeared later in the 1884 catalogue of Meacham Arms Company. At that period, barrels could be obtained in either round or octagonal section.
While the general style remained typical of other Bull Dog revolvers, it was distinctive in having a raised portion of the frame at the upper rear area of the stock. Moulded within a circular border at the top end of each stock plate, was the head of a bull dog, while the remaining surface was finely chequered and bordered. A title of NEW BRITISH BULL DOG was stamped onto the top strap and further identified by a hunting horn symbol applied at the forward left side of the frame. At the centre of the horn was the initial N. Both the Bull Dog face and horn symbol were inaugurated as Belgian trade marks on 30 December, 1893, although it had clearly been used several years previously.
New British Bull Dog: Manufactured in Liege by Neumann Brothers, New British Bulldog in calibre .44 was popular sidearm throughout American West.
In their 1883 catalogue, Turner & Ross offered the New British Bull Dog in the following variations:
• Calibre .44 with round or octagonal barrel, rubber stock and full nickel plating, for $7
• Calibre .44 with octagonal barrel and chequered ebony stock, for $6 (The same model was also offered in calibre .38 as the imported “American” Bulldog at $7.)
Typical example with THE BRITISH BULL DOG on top strap and with initials of Southern Pacific Rail Road Company on barrel flat, plus weapon number 87. Courtesy Homer Ficken.
The English Bull Dog: Calibre .450 five-shot Lieg model of The English Bull Dog retailed in England by Mitchell &Company of Manchester.
The Ulster Bull Dog: Calibre .450 five-shot example of THE ULSTER BULL DOG produced by James Braddell &Son of Belfast. Brazing additional butt onto standard Webley model produced more comfortable grip when weapon was fired. Serial No. 5039. Courtesy W.C.Dowell.
Example with ratchet cylinder probably manufactured in Liege. London proof marks and retailed by J. Braddell & Son, Belfast. Models in similar style to this and within same serial range were also produced by P. Webley & Son. Serial No. 20503. Courtesy Imperial War Museum, London.
• Calibre .32, .38, or .44 with che-quered walnut stock, round barrel and plain cylinder, for $5.
It was also stated that, in recent times, many hundreds of these models had been sold throughout the western regions to places such as Deadwood, Cheyenne and Virginia City.
Included amongst all the other Bull Dog titles, with their deliberate inclination toward the American market, was a usage by Belgian gun makers of the full phrase stamped on the original Webley model, THE BRITISH BULL DOG. (As well as being a British trade mark, it had also been registered in Belgium by the firm P. Webley & Son in May 1881).
At this point, it is worth noting that the Webley firm had resorted to having some of their Bull Dog revolvers made by others in order to cope with an increasing demand from abroad. These were duly returned to the Birmingham for finishing and to receive a British proof mark. However, it had been customary for the Webley firm to identify their products with the “Flying Bullet” symbol in addition to the title stamping and so it may have been an infringement of the Webley Trade Mark registration for the Belgian models to be marked in that way .
In any event, adoption of that title was obviously put to good effect in boosting sales within the United States, where the Webley model had already been acclaimed as “the famous and much celebrated Bull Dog.”
It is known that models in this category were acquired by the Southern Pacific Rail Road Company to be carried by some of their employees. Origins of that company can be traced back to 1868, when it operated from San Francisco through New Mexico to New Orleans, establishing many “way stations” as it traversed the Western states of America. Revolvers were issued to various agents and also acquired by foremen of maintenance crews working in the more remote areas. Examples have been identified with the mark of Societe Dumoulin Freres, which had operated in Liege since 1877 and later in association with gun makers Albert Simonis and Joseph Janssen.
Examples marked with an alternative title of “English” Bull Dog were also of Liege origin and used much the same casting as those marked “British” or others marked “Western.”
Application of the new name was made in three different forms: one stamped with capital letters as THE ENGLISH BULL DOG on the top strap; another engraved in serif italic lettering simply as ENGLISH BULLDOG (two words) on the top strap; a third with serif lettering in a single line on the top strap as ENGLISH BULL DOG (three words). The latter version was chambered for a calibre .44 cartridge and featured a fluted cylinder and octagonal barrel section.
At various times, the firm of P. Webley & Son had supplied limited quantities of revolvers to
